§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will cause an inquiry to be instituted by the Railway Department of the Board of Trade with the view of obliging the carrying companies to separate the sea rate from the land rate on goods so that the precise ratio of Preferential Rates granted to foreign produce may be made public.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am not sure that I correctly understand the point of the hon. Member's Question; if he desires to know the amount of the railway portion of a through rate as distinct from the charge for sea carriage I gather that his point is met by sub-section 4 of section:33 of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888, and section 14 of the Regulation of Railways Act of 1873 therein referred to. I am not aware that there is any general system of prefeuntial rates, in existence but the Board of Trade will always be happy to inquire into any specific case under the powers of section 31 of the Act of 1888.